I was choked with grief when the passing away of Kandiah Neelakandan was conveyed to me by an email and a phone call on February 19, 2018 .Death is inevitable. It comes to all but when it comes to one who is close in a relationship built on values that have mattered, parting is indeed extremely sad.
The life of a man is a long march through the night towards a goal that few can hope to reach and everyone may tarry long. As a man condemned today to lose his dear friend, tomorrow himself to pass through the gate of darkness I propose to pen a few words about a companion in the long march, snatched away recently as all the participants in the March are destined one day to be.
There are many facets to the personality of Kandiah Neelakandan. In writing about him it is difficult to decide where to begin.
My memory goes back to his home - Karanavai Karaveddy in Vadamaradchy, a place reputed for eminent personalities in all walks of life - medical, legal, engineering, accountancy, judicial and so on. He was born in Malaysia but he commenced his educational career at Uduppiddy American Mission College in Vadamaradchy.After his secondary education at this college he went to Jaffna Hindu College for the HSC class.
Thereafter he entered Sri Lanka Law College, Hulfsdrop Colombo in the mid-’60s and took oaths as an Attorney - at - Law. I was born in Karaveddy and had my secondary education at Vigneswara College, Karaveddy which is a stone’s throw from my home. On completion of my secondary education I too went to Jaffna Hindu College for my HSC.
Thereafter I entered Sri Lanka Law College in the mid-sixties and took oaths as an Attorney - at - Law. Although we are both from Karaveddy, I met him for the first time in the mid ‘60s at Sri Lanka Law College where we started our legal career.
We were batch mates at Law College. He was a full time student and I, part time, working at the Labour Secretariat Colombo as a prosecuting officer in the Magistrate’s Courts spread out in the entire Island.
At Law College he was involved in the activities of the Law Students Association, Hindu Association and other associations.
As a part time student I had to rush to my office, and had no time to involve in the activities of the associations. In 1968 , V. Murugesu, Attorney -at-Law of high repute established a partnership law firm named Murugesu and Kularatne. Neelakandan who was in his twenties was taken to the law firm as a professional assistant in January 1970.
The late Kularatne left in August 1970, and from 1970 this business was run under the name and style of Murugesu and Neelakandan, a partnership firm. Eventually, he married Sashidevi, eldest daughter of Murugesu, an Attorney -at - Law and a partner of the law firm - Murugesu and Neelakandan.
She was a perfect housewife who maintained a beautiful and happy home. They have three children - a daughter and two sons.
They were educated in London and obtained the law degree in London and later qualified as Attorneys - at - Law in Sri Lanka. Murugesu passed away on March 20,2010.Neelakandan was the precedent partner of the law firm run under the name and style of Neelakandan and Neelakandan at Colpetty.
His wife Sashidevi and the two sons are also partners of this firm. Neelakandan’s two daughters - in Law are also Attorneys - at - Law. His family is a team of lawyers. He had a meteoric rise in his professional career.
He was instructing leading counsels - to mention a few - Navaratnarajah Q. C., Sam Kadirgamar Q. C., Luxman Kadirgamar P. C., G. F. Sethukavalar P. C., Dr. K. Kanag Iswaran P. C.. Neelakandan was instructing me in employment related cases in labour tribunals and superior courts.
He was handpicked by Chief Justice Shiranee Bandaranayake for her impeachment case, although there were thousands of lawyers ready to take her case.
The quality and quantum of work done by him in the labour tribunal Negombo case of Rasanayagam Vs Pftzer Ltd before me as instructing attorney to G.F.Sethukavalar and Dr. K.Kanag Iswaran, leading lawyers still linger in my memory.
Meticulous thoroughness in everything he did was the key to his professional success. Clarity of thought and felicity of expression were his forte.
His professional interest went beyond the practice of law. He was a life member of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, and chief editor of the Bar Association Law Journal for more than 25 years almost single handed. He was the editor of the weekly newsletter of the Bar Association.
His elder son Saravanan is one of the two chief editors of the Law Journal and his younger son Pravanan is an assistant editor of the Law Journal. Neelakandan was a live wire of the Bar Association, and the brain child of the Law Asia Conference. He served as Chairman of the Registration Committee of the Law Asia 1993 Conference, and handled the publication of the conference documents. He played an important role in organizing the Law Asia Golden Jubilee Conference of 2016 by chairing both, the sessions committee and the publication committee.
He took a keen interest in legal education programs of law students who had passed the Attorney - at - Law final examination.
For more than 15 years, at his invitation, Ajantha Athukorala, former president, Bar Association, the late M. B. Jayasinghe and late Chandra Goonatilleke and I from the Institute of Industrial Law delivered lectures on Industrial Law. He was also a member of the Law Commission, Council of Legal Education and Company Law Advisory Commission.
He was a group Deputy Chairman of George Stuart and Co Ltd.,SriLanka’s oldest company from 2008 to 2012. He had published books on Company Law, his specialty. Neelakandan was a devout Hindu. He worked hard to restore Hindu temples and protested vehemently when Hindu temples were attacked. He did his best to the people in the war - torn areas and the people in the IDP camps.
Notwithstanding his busy practice he found time for his family. He was a loving husband and a devoted father.
He was a workaholic, and said - plan your work in such a way that you should never say “ I have no time.”There is a notice in his office which says ‘ I do not want excuses. I am only interested in work done ‘The two important lessons from his career are his work ethics and his devotion to clients.
He contributed much of his time and resources to his Alma Mater. He had regularly published a hand book titled “ Indu Oli “ which was informative of Hindu religion. When I was preparing to proceed to Australia, Neelakandan gave me a book titled “ Compendium for Hindus “ - a Diamond Jubilee publication of All Ceylon Hindu Congress.
This a valuable book for children living abroad as it contains transliterations and translations of divine songs including Sivapuranam, Abirami Anthathi, Thiruvembavai and Kanthasashdi Kavasam. He had an inane smile pasted on his face.
Due to his immense capacity for making friends, he had a wide circle of friends.
This is evident from the large crowd at his funeral. His demise has created an irreplaceable vacuum difficult to fill. Passing away of a veritable colossus has saddened the Tamil community and the Hindus. My association with him still reverberates in my mind.
I can distinctly recall when he embraced me at my golden jubilee wedding on May 12, 2011.He came with his wife and blessed us. Death is inevitable.
It cannot be avoided. I wish to encapsulate this appreciation by quoting William Shakespeare ; “ His life was gentle gracious and elegant that forces of nature may stand up and say ‘ This is the man ‘.
I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to his grieving wife and children and members of the family. May his soul rest in peace and rise in glory.
V. Vimalarajah, Attorney - at - Law,
Sydney Australia